Darkness. Silence. An unnatural calm. Akira stood in the Void, the echo of his own breath the only sound. The Reaper's words still buzzed in his ears:
"Your soul has been divided."
Akira's fists clenched. "What do you mean… divided?"
The Reaper, cloaked in shadows that flickered like dying flames, stepped forward, revealing a skull-like face with glowing, hollow eyes.
"Your death wasn't ordinary, Akira. The moment you chose to save that child, the remnants of your desire—your pain, your confusion, your rage—split the essence of your soul. Two paths were forged. One stayed true. The other... strayed."
Akira took a step back. His mind flashed with visions—his bullying, his loneliness, his need to understand the world, and his dying breath on that blood-stained road.
"Where's the other me?" he asked, voice trembling.
The Reaper raised a skeletal hand. In the space before them, shadows coiled and twisted, forming an image. Another Akira—same eyes, same face—but with a cruel smirk and glowing red irises.
"Kuroo," the Reaper said. "The one born from the darkness within you."
Akira's breath caught. "What... What is he doing now?"
"Surviving. But differently. In a parallel world—one ruled by chaos and cruelty. A place where power dominates all. He has your memories, but none of your restraint."
Akira's heart pounded. "And me? What happens to me now?"
"That depends," the Reaper replied, stepping aside. Behind him, two glowing doorways emerged. One was a radiant white, flickering like a candle in a storm. The other pulsed with red, chaotic energy.
"You can choose," the Reaper said. "Start anew and walk a path of redemption. Or... follow the echo of your darker self."
Akira's eyes narrowed as he stared at the glowing portals.
Then… everything shook. The Void trembled. The Reaper turned abruptly, staring into the darkness behind him.
"No… this isn't supposed to happen yet."
From the darkness, laughter echoed—low, venomous, and familiar.
A figure stepped out—Kuroo.
"Well well… so this is where the real me was hiding."
Akira's eyes widened in shock.
"Kuroo…!"
Kuroo's grin deepened, his red eyes glowing brighter.
"I didn't think our bond would let me find you so soon. Looks like I was wrong."
The Reaper moved protectively in front of Akira. "You shouldn't be here, anomaly."
Kuroo laughed. "Tell that to fate. Or maybe... we are fate's mistake."
He raised a hand and the Void itself began to crack.
The Reaper turned to Akira, his voice now urgent. "You must leave—NOW! Choose your path and step through! If he drags you into his world, everything will collapse."
Akira hesitated—but only for a second.
He sprinted toward the white portal.
Behind him, Kuroo's voice echoed with fury:
"RUN, little half! But we'll meet again. And next time… only one of us walks away!"
As Akira passed through the portal, light engulfed him.
And thus began his journey—not just to reclaim his fate, but to confront the monster he could have become.
[To be continued…]